4 
REVIEWS. 
the characters drawn from the last alone are exhibited in this essay, such 
a prominence appearing conducive to the end in view. 
Among the Clavicornia of Latreille, Burmeister discriminates three 
great groups, .in his opinion co-ordinate with such stirpes as the Lamelli- 
cornia , Capricornia , Rhyhchophora , and Cyclica . The name CLAVI¬ 
CORNIA is reserved for the first of these, consisting of the Histeroidea, 
Necrophorida: (Silphidae, restricted as follows), Scaphidiina, Celeripeeia 
(Catops, Colon), ANisoTOMimE; and as another section, the Brachyptera 
(Staphylinidas), Pselaphid^e, and ScydrleniDjE. The Cryptophagid^e, 
Nitidulina, and Phalacrida: appear to form a connecting link, more 
closely allied to the Clavicornia , but also leading, by means of Rhizo- 
phagus* * * § and Megalognathus ,j to the PILICORNIA. This, the second 
stirps, is composed of the Dermestodea (Limnichus and Aspidiphorus being 
detached), Byrrhodea (including Limnichus), Peltodea (Peltis, Thymalus), 
Trogositidce (Trogosita, Gymnochila, Temnochila, Nemosoma), Engyidce 
(Engys,J Dacne, Myfotretus, Tritoma, Triplax, Byturus,§ Languria), 
Erotylid/e, Mycetophagid^e (Mycetophagus, Diphyllus, Triphyllus, Tetra- 
toma), ColydiiDcE (Synchyta, Colobicus, Ditoma, Colydium), and Corti- 
cidas (Corticus, Sarrotrium, Acropis). The last two groups that Latreille 
has comprehended in the Clavicornia are so intimately allied to his Palpi- 
cornia , that they are here combined with the latter in the third stirps, 
PHILYDRINA Macleay, which then consists of the Palpicornia, Macro- 
dactyli (Parnidse, Elmidae, Georyssidae), and Acanthopoda (Heterocerus). 
The place awarded in this scheme to the Brachelytra is likely enough 
* According to Burmeister, Rhizophagus should be treated as the representative 
of a peculiar type of the Nitidulina ; agreeing with the Ipina in the oral organs, 
hut in respect to the antennae, legs, and wings, differing from them yet more than 
from the rest of the family. 
f Megalognathus (Prostomis ) presents such peculiar characters as seem to forbid 
its conjunction with either the Trogositidce or Histeroidea. Burmeister, therefore, 
refers it to a place between the Trogositidce and Peltodea , in relation to which it 
stands as a probable connecting link with the Platysomce through Parandra. 
| We can discover no valid reason for the change of Engis , and its derivative 
Engidce , into Engys and Engyidce. A noun ky-yvg is no more to be found in old 
Greek than t-yyig ; and even if we assume, as the author has probably done, the 
adverb eyyvg for the root, a change of termination, in passing into the casual form, 
is not liable to the charge of inconsequence. 
§ u Byturus agrees well with Triplax and Tritoma in the structure of the tarsi; 
the oral organs also correspond, with the exception of the securiform maxillary palpi, 
so that I have no hesitation in referring Byturus to this family. Even in general 
habit the resemblance is strong, although the pubescence of Byturus is in contrast 
with the glabrous surface of the Engyidce in general. But when we are aware that 
in exotic genera, as Episcapha , there are pubescent and glabrous species in the 
closest contiguity E. glabra and E. longicornis ), this difference ceases to seem 
material, and the relation of Byturus to the family Engyidce appears established 
in every point of view.’’ 
